RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21190, 13 August 1940, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MANIAPOTO CHAMPIONS OTOROHANGA TEAM’S SUCCESS (Special to Times.) TE KUTTI, Monday With .Afangaotaki Tor tho first time unable to prevent the splendid backs or the opposing team from securing the ball, Otorothaaga defeated that team on Saturday, 12—<3, to win the Maniapoto senior championship and the honour or defending the Hetot Shield. With a strong forward pack as well as their representative backs it seemed as if Otorohanga should run through their opponents, but a stub-born defence, speed and illness to keep up with the play, and the ability to retaliate with forward rushes, enabled Mangaotaki to hold down the margin to 9 points. The Otorohanga side played probably its best game or the season. Thornton was outstanding Jn the forward division, his speed, handling, weight, and above all his hackling up, being one of tlie factors Innis side’s victory. Of the remainder G. Waretini was the star, playing one of his best games of the season. The backs, particularly the inside ones, were fully up to representative standard, with Rogers, Cameron, Dow and Henderson penetrating with their speed on every possible occasion, in previous matches with Otorohanga, aided by Stanaway’s tackling, Mangaotaki smothered Otorohanga’s back movements before they began, but last Saturday the task proved too difficult. The .Mangaotaki rorwards round it difficult to hold Waretlni and Thornton, two men with superior weight, whom Mangaotaki found hard to smother. A fine movement by Thornton gave Otorohanga another three points before the final whistle, when he dribbled from the twenty-five mark past the fullback to score a magnificent try. TE KUITf BEATS WAIMIHA Th« score or 24 points to 6, In favour or Te Kuiti against Walmiha was scarcely a rair indication of the two sides’ strength. The match was largely a hard-fought battle except for spirited passing forays by the To Kuiti backs once or twice Fiiie dribbling work by Carruthe.-s (Te Kuiti) saw tills team gain three points, which was all that was scored In the first half. A brilliant passing movement involving Wanbrick, McLeod and Williams started Te Kuiti’s scoring run in the second half, a run in which 11 points came In five minutes. McLeod scored from the work of Peterson, M. Hetet converting, and Lennox crossed as the result of the Walmiha fullback mishandling. Walmiha retaliated soon after, a penalty and a try following In quick succession, but before the match finished Te Kuiti scored two more tries, one by Hetet and one by McGregor, both being converted by McLeod.

PUKEWEKA SHIELD IWATCH^^^

In the Pukeweka Shield match between Mahoenui and West Coast, Mahoenul secured the victory by 14 points to 8, one or the greatest contributing factors bein-sr Hepburn’s kicking. This player opened Mahoenui’-s scoring with a successful penalty kick from the side-line. West Coast took the lead when following a forward rush Dick Willi son claimed a try, which was converted by M. Miln. Before hairtime a try gained by Lowry, converted by Hepburn, made the score B—s in Mahoenui’s ravour. Another six points came to this side when Hepburn crossed from a back movement and from another penalty goal kicked by Hepburn. 'Miln scored again for West coast.